Veterans' attitudes to influenza vaccination in the setting of shortage of vaccine, 2004-2005.
OBJECTIVE
To inform strategies for vaccinating elderly veterans, the objectives were to determine the proportion of veterans > or =65 years old vaccinated against influenza during the 2004-05 vaccine-shortage, the place they received vaccine, the reasons why they were/were not vaccinated and their attitudes to the shortage.


RESULTS
Among 682 respondents, 87% were vaccinated during 2004-05. More participants received vaccine at the Veterans' Administration hospital than previously (67% vs. 57%, p < 0.0001). Only 28% perceived themselves as being at high risk from influenza even though all participants met > or =1 high-risk criteria. Among unvaccinated participants, 21% were unvaccinated so that someone else could have their dose ("altruism"). For 61%, the shortage led to feeling heightened urgency for vaccination; those participants were more apt to be vaccinated (96% v. 77%, p < 0.001). Of those not vaccinated during the previous season, only 20% reported feeling urgency associated with the shortage, versus 65% of those vaccinated previously (p < 0.0001).


METHODS
Survey-questionnaire mailed to a random sample of veterans > or =65 years-old. The questionnaire was derived from qualitative interviews during December 2004.


CONCLUSIONS
The climate of shortage led to a heightened sense of urgency for vaccination that was most prominent among veterans who were vaccinated in the past. It also may have led to vaccination for a small proportion not previously vaccinated against influenza. In contrast, other elderly veterans may have been motivated to avoid vaccination for altruistic reasons or because of confusion about their risk-status. Outreach and communication about vaccination should target both those who may feel urgency to be vaccinated as well as those who may inappropriately avoid vaccination.
Benin
Andrea L
AL
Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. andrea.benin@ynhh.org
Learsy-Cahill
Dawn
D
Das
Rita
R
Kancir
Sue
S
Welch
Barbara
B
Martinello
Richard A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014728:Veterans
D007252:Influenza Vaccines